Foldable table



April 23, 1935. J ODE'NWALD 1,998,519

FOLDABLE TABLE Filed May 11, 1934 4 Sheefs-Sheet 1 Invenlor JakoZ 064M874 f1 llorricy April 23,. 1935. J. ODENWALD T FOLDABLE TABLE Q Filed y 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor TZQZvZ 0d??? l I v flum I flllorney A r l 23, 1935.

J. OD ENWALD I EOLDABLE TABLE F i'led May 11, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet '5 Inventor 1550; 062 01 wgZ April 23, 1935. .1. ODENWALD FOLDABLE TABLE- Filed May 11, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 1 Inventor up By flllomey Patented Apr. 23, 1935 i UNITED STATES FOLDABLE TABLE Jakob Odenwald,

Jersey City, N. J.

Application May 11, 1934, Serial No..725,196

3 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved foldable table which is expressly adapted for use as a card table but which is capable of use in numerous difierent ways.

The ordinary collapsible or' foldable card table, as is well known comprises a fiat rectangular or substantially square top embodying a marginal frame and an appropriately covered top. As a general rule four pivoted legs are foldable within the limits of the frame and are hingedly attached thereto and maintained in perpendicular supporting position by hinged double link stay devices.

The present invention has reference to. a table top covered for ornamental as well as utilitarian purposes, together with a dual or duplex leg frame.

supporting structure therefor, wherein said structure is constructed and attached in such a way as to effectively support the top in the usual horizontal playing position or to permit it to drop down, like a leaf on a drop table so as to enable it to be supported, by the same leg structure and to serve in the capacity of a screen.

Stated otherwise I have evolved and produced a unique leg structure for card tables which embodies -main and supplementary leg equipped frames pivotally attached together with one of the frames hingedly connected with diagonally opposite corners of the table top, whereby to permit the frames to be collapsed into adjacent relationship and arranged in perpendicular position to properly balance and support the table top in a screen forming position, that is, in a substantially vertical position so that it can be placed in front of a radiator, fireplace or other piece of furniture to be shielded from view.

Stated more specifically. the invention relies for novelty upon the provision of a top construction including a frame provided on its under side and atits corner portions with blocks, these being arranged in opposing pairs, one pair of blocks serving as keeper cleats and the other pair as adapter devices for attaching the main leg frames to the top frame.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view showing the two leg frames collapsed or folded together and in a perpendicular position with the top hanging down in its vertical screen forming position.

Figure 2 is a side or edge elevational view of the assemblage illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the in,-

verted table with the leg frames swung around to operative position for providing a support for the table top. r

Figure l'is a view like Figure 3 showing a secondary or supplemental leg frame swung around o on the pivots into matching or contacting rela- .tionship with respect to .the main leg frame, just priorto disposing said legframes in supporting position as illustratedin Figuresl and 2.

Figure 5 is a perspective iew of one of the cleats or'blocks of thetype shown in the lower left hand corner of Figures 3 and 4.

Figure 6 is a detail fragmentary perspective view showing the trunnion formation or construction of one of the leg frames. j

ner inwhich the cover or covering is fastened to the. top of the table. e

Itis' evident fromthe drawings that the invention can be considered as aaconvertible structure, n that is, it may be employed 'as a decorative furniture screen (Figures 1 and 2) or' it may be used as a card or article supporting and service table (Figure 3) In either instance it will be observed that the numeral .5 designates what may be con venientlyireferred to as the top. This comprises a rectangular under frame 6 and an appropriate leather or ornamental covering 1 attached there'- to. The numeral 8 is merely an: essential brace bar.

Figure 7 is a sectional view showing the man- As before intimated, on the underside of the 1 and 4 the blocks of one pair may be distinguished as cleats!) and I0. These are disposed in diagonally opposed relationship and formed with notches, that is longitudinal notohes'shape'd to define retention cams l I. It will be noticedthat the cleat] I0 is formed .at one end of the cam with a keeper notch l2.. 7

The remaining. set or pair of corner blocksis differentiated and distinguished as attaching o'r adapter blocks "and denoted by the numerals l3. These are of duplicate construction. Each block is formed centrally with an accommodation notch l4 whose bight portion is somewhat rounded and whose side walls are substantially flat and disposed in parallelism. These notches constitute bearings for reception of extension journals IS on the ends of the main leg frame'lfi. This leg frame comprises a pair of duplicate legs I! provided with suitable supporting feet I8. At the lower ends the legs are tied together by a connecting bar l9. At their inner or upper ends they are secured together by a similar carrier and hinge forming bar 20. The ends of this bar extend beyond the legs to form the aforementioned extensions or journals l5. As shown in Figure 6 one half portion of the journal is rounded or cut off at substantially a quarter circle arc as indicated at 21 while the two remaining faces are flat as at 22 and disposed at right angles to each other to more successfully match the straight side Walls of the bearing notches I4. This particular cross sectional shape of the journal allows it to oscillate or roll around in its bearing notch 14. The journal is held in the notch by a retaining strap or clip 23 (see Figures 3 and 4).

The secondary or supplemental leg frame is distinguished with the numeral 24 and is substantially duplicate in construction. This comprises a pair of companion legs v25 having supfeet 26., having a connecting bar 1.9.0, intersecting and pivotally attached to the central portion .of the bar 19 as indicated at 21. The complemental frame bar is denoted by the numeral 20a and this is pivotally attached as at 28 to the central portion of .the complemental main v frame bar 20. It will be noticed that the end portions of this bar 20a are attached below the upper ends of the legs .25 so that the legs extend beyond the ends of the bars to permit them to ride against the cams II and to allow one of the legs to snap .down into the keeper notch or seat 12 as shown in Figure 3 when the two leg frames are disposed .at right angles to each other.

The gist of the invention is in the provision of a main leg frame or unit IS with the braces l9 and 20 constituting an integral part thereof wherein said leg frame is hingedly attached by blocks .13 todiagonally opposite corner portions of the frame of the table top. This is one phase of the invention. Secondly novelty is predicated the secondary or complemental leg frame or unit 24 comprising substantially duplicate legs 25 attached by bars I! and 20a which. cooperate with the bars [9 and .20 in pivoted intersecting relationship so that the two frames are allowed to swing into support forming relationship as shown in Figure 3 or to swing into collapsed or folded position as shown in Figure 4. Conseuuently with this double leg frame structure and table top and block arrangement it is possible to use the structure either as an ornamental shield or screen or a service or card table. It i obvious that if the leg .structures 1.8 and 24 are in the folded relationship shown in Figure 4 both frames can be dropped down to the position shown in Figures 1 and 2 to serve in the capacity of a shielding screen as well as to dispose the table out of the way-when it is not in use. Also, while the leg frame structures are the position shown in Figure 4, it is possible to swing the frame 24 around at right angles torthe frame 1,6 causing the inner ends of the legs to ride up on the cams VH and to snap into retaining position. This provides the stable and dependable table arrangement.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention after considering the description in connection with the drawings. Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Minor changes in shape, size, and rearrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. In a structure of the class described, a table top embodying a pair of adapter blocks secured to diagonally opposite corner portions thereof, said blocksibeing provided with bearing forming notches, a le frame structure embodying legs and a connecting bar secured to the upper ends of said legs and extending beyond said ends and constituting trunnions, said trunnionsbeing located for adjustment in said notches, and retaining clips secured to said block spanning the notches to hold the trunnions in place.

2. In a structure of the class described, a table top embodying a pair of adapter blocks secured to diagonally opposite corner portions thereof, said blocks being provided with bearing forming notches, a leg frame structure embodying legs 31 and a connecting bar secured to the upper ends of said legs and extending beyond said ends and constituting trunnions, said trunnions being taining clips secured to said blocks spanning the notches to hold the trunnions in place, together with a secondary leg frame unit pivotally attached to said first named leg frame and associated therewith and. with said table top in a manner to hold said table top either in screen forming position or in table forming position.

3. A structure of the class described comprising a table top embodying an under-frame, a pair of diagonally disposed complemental attaching blocks secured to said frame, said blocks being formed with central bearing notches, a main leg frame structure including companion legs and upper and lower connecting bars, the upper bar having its ends formed to provide journals, said journals being located in said bearing notches, retaining plates carried by said blocks spanning the notches to hold the journals in place, a secondary leg frame unit embodying legs and connecting bars pivotally attached intermediate their ends to corresponding portions of the bars JAKOB ODENWALD. 

